Select & Elite

Competitive AYSO Soccer in Palo Alto


Spring & Fall Select


The Spring and Fall Select Programs are competitive and offer players the opportunity to train, learn, play and compete in soccer at a high level of sophistication. These programs offer the finest opportunity in Palo Alto for developing sportsmanship, character, advanced skills and team function. Players must tryout each season to be offered a position in these Programs. Spring Select teams play other AYSO Regions' competitive teams in the PCSSL league, and play in tournaments in the Greater Bay Area with other AYSO Regions. Spring Select teams often scrimmage club teams from the south Bay Area. Fall Select teams play other AYSO Regions' competitive teams, club teams and tournaments around the Greater Bay Area.


These programs together provide our players the opportunity for year-round competitive training and play. Games are generally on Sunday. This is not for all players or families. And it does take a family commitment to help with the additional activities and ensuring the high attendance of their players to events around the Greater Bay Area.


We would like to provide these opportunities to all advanced players, but can only provide team slots in accordance with the number of coaches in the Program. If you are interested in helping, contact select@ayso26.org and discuss the possibility of assisting or coaching. We need more help to make enough teams for all qualified players.



PARTICIPATION REQUIRES A STRONG PARENT AND PLAYER COMMITMENT



Players and Parents, joining one of these advanced programs requires your commitment to participate completely. This includes participation in tournaments that are out of town. If you enter this program your team will depend on you, and dropping out or not attending fully, harms the team. And, you are taking a precious player slot that someone else could have used. Our commitment to provide maximum playing time for each player requires us to have smaller rosters. A player dropping out of a small roster harms the other players' game.


Getting invited is earned, being placed on a team is a privilege, showing up and participating is a privilege and a responsibility. Players not participating fully during the season will be cut.

2023 Select Soccer Tryouts

Select tryouts for teams are happening in November for AYSO players looking for a competitive experience. Please fill in the tryout registration form for an invitation.

For more info on Select contact select@ayso26.org

For Spring 2023 teams, we will have tryouts for the following teams:

  • Boys U9 (BY 2014) -- Nov 5

  • Boys U10 (BY 2013-14) -- Nov 5

  • Girls U10 (BY 2013-14) -- Nov 15, 17

  • Boys U11 (BY 2012) -- Dec 6, 9

  • Girls U12 (BY 2011-12) -- TBD

  • Boys U12 (BY 2011-12) -- Nov 13, 18

  • Girls U14 United (BY 2009-10) - Dec 6, 9


Please register for an invitation to tryouts

Palo Alto Spring Select


Overview

The Select season starts with once-a-week training beginning in mid-January. This is augmented with scrimmages with PSV and nearby Select teams from other cities. Then in February the schedule picks up the pace with two trainings per week and scrimmages, and in March through May, the teams play in the PCSSL (Pacific Coast Spring Select League) in the South Bay and Peninsula. PCSSL games are generally on Sunday. In April through May, the team will enter into tournaments in the Greater Bay Area, usually starting with El Palo Alto in April, and culminating with the Davis World Cup on Memorial Day weekend. Coaches may increase training and tournament participation according to the desire of the team.


Tournaments

Tournaments are multiple day competitions with several games each day. Generally, all games and tournaments are within 40 minute driving distance. Teams typically stay overnight in Davis for the World Cup.


Palo Alto AYSO and our Spring Select teams host El Palo Alto Tournament in April. Teams from all over northern California come to Palo Alto to compete for two days. It is a great competitive event with plenty of atmosphere and fun.


Eligibility

Participation in Spring Select is only available to players that participated in an AYSO Fall Program, either Instructional or Select Players are selected during tryouts usually held near the end of October. The tryouts are used to rank the players for assignment to teams. Players from 8 through 18 may participate in teams for U10 through U19.


Special arrangements are made for our Select players participating in varsity soccer, permitting them to play Varsity while the high school season is underway. We backfill the teams with players chosen from the tryouts as developmental players.


Volunteering

At least one parent per Select player is required to register as a volunteer and be prepared to help with team functions such as car pooling, tournament registration, or other duties the coach may request. Each coach will appoint a Team Manager to handle uniforms and organize the other parent volunteers.

At least one parent per family must register as a volunteer to help for at least 2 hours at El Palo Alto Tournament, during the last weekend of April, regardless of other volunteering the family may do. Coaches and Referees at El Palo Alto are excused from this requirement.


Palo Alto Fall Select


Overview

The Fall season starts with once-a-week training beginning before the Recreational program beings. As the season begins, the schedule picks up the pace with two trainings per week, and in September through November, the teams play with teams from the Greater Bay Area, including AYSO advanced teams and club teams.


Tournaments

Tournaments are multiple day competitions with multiple games each day. The teams may enter into tournaments, including a Halloween and the Turkey Tournament. The season ends with the Turkey Tournament. Tournaments are drivable same-day.


Eligibility

Players are appointed to Select through assessments performed at tryouts in May and June. All players are eligible to attend tryouts and be assessed for Select teams, regardless of past participation in AYSO. Players who have never played with AYSO, or who have not played recently, are invited to tryout. Tryout events are posted on the Regional Calendar, and also on the home page.


Players from nearby regions that want to continue their Spring Select experience may join Palo Alto Select.


Volunteering

At least one parent per Select player is required to register as a volunteer and be prepared to help with team functions such as car pooling, tournament registration, or other duties the coach may request. Each coach will appoint a Team Manager to handle uniforms and organize the other parent volunteers.